‘A fight for his life’: Bystander helps Amarillo police officer during fight with suspect
AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) – An Amarillo Police Department officer is in the hospital after a fight with a suspect led to a shot fired Friday morning near Western Street.
About 8:00 a.m., an Amarillo motorcycle officer was conducting a traffic stop and learned that the driver had a warrant.
The officer tried to arrest him, but the suspect started fighting and resisting and got away.
This led to a chase that ended up in an alley behind Network Finance in the area of Southwestern 34th Avenue and South Western Street, APD Sgt. Carla Burr said.
Video obtained by NewsChannel 10 shows the chase. The officer knocked into the suspect and brought him down to the ground.
While they were fighting and struggling with each other on the ground, the video shows the suspect reaching for the officer’s handgun.
A bystander jumped in to help the officer with the suspect. The suspect reached for the gun again and at some point, a shot was fired.
The officer was grazed but continued to hold the suspect down until back up arrived.
“I’m really proud of the officer,” Sgt. Burr said. “It was probably terrifying and he was able to keep the suspect from hurting him, hurting anyone else.”
The suspect was arrested. Amarillo police identified him as 36-year-old Lyle L. Youngs.
He was booked into the Randall County Detention Center for attempted capital murder of a peace officer, attempting to take a weapon from a peace officer, possession of controlled substance, resisting arrest, evading arrest, false ID, possession of drug paraphernalia and other charges.
The officer was treated at the scene of the incident and was taken to a hospital for further treatment, but no one was seriously injured.
”We thank the citizen that stopped. That probably made a huge difference for the officer. It allowed him to gain control, it allowed him to feel a little more confident,” Sgt. Burr said. “It was a fight for his life.”
VIDEO:
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An officer was injured Friday morning while responding to a call near Western Street.
Details are limited, but this happened in the area of Southwest 34th Avenue and South Western Street.
Police are on scene of the incident that is behind
Details are limited, but we will update you when information is made available.
Copyright 2023 KFDA. All rights reserved.
‘Fighting for his life:’ Apache Junction PD identifies officer shot in face
Default Mono Sans Mono Serif Sans Serif Comic Fancy Small CapsDefault X-Small Small Medium Large X-Large XX-LargeDefault Outline Dark Outline Light Outline Dark Bold Outline Light Bold Shadow Dark Shadow Light Shadow Dark Bold Shadow Light BoldDefault Black Silver Gray White Maroon Red Purple Fuchsia Green Lime Olive Yellow Navy Blue Teal Aqua OrangeDefault 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%Default Black Silver Gray White Maroon Red Purple Fuchsia Green Lime Olive Yellow Navy Blue Teal Aqua OrangeDefault 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%The Apache Junction Police Department says Ofc. Gabriel Facio was shot in the line of duty following a traffic stop on Monday. Stephanie Duprey has the latest.
By Ben Bradley
APACHE JUNCTION, AZ (AZFamily) — The Apache Junction Police Department has identified an officer who was shot in the line of duty following a traffic stop on Monday morning.
Officer Gabriel Facio, a three-year veteran of the department, remains hospitalized in critical condition after a shootout with an armed suspect.
“Officer Facio is fighting for his life,” Apache Junction Police Chief Michael Pooley said during a news conference on Tuesday afternoon.
The situation began around 9:20 a.m. on Monday when Apache Junction police officers were notified of a road rage incident involving a driver brandishing a gun near Ironwood Drive and Ray Avenue. An officer soon spotted a vehicle matching the description and initiated a traffic stop.
Chief Pooley said the driver, since identified as 37-year-old Roger Nunez of Apache Junction, was initially compliant and showed no aggression. But when asked to step out of his vehicle, Pooley says Nunez pulled a handgun from the glove compartment, got out and began walking away.
Officers followed Nunez as he walked away and headed south on Ironwood, commanding him to stop. Pooley said Nunez refused and told officers to shoot him.
Police followed him for about a mile, then used a less-lethal pepperball launcher as they tried to take him into custody. It had no effect.
When they reached the area of Radiance Avenue and Davis Drive, Pooley says Nunez made a quick move and fired four rounds, striking Officer Facio in the face. Four other officers returned fire, and Nunez was wounded.
The officers loaded Facio into a patrol vehicle, and he was rushed to a hospital a couple of miles away in extremely critical condition.
“He is still in very critical condition. And one thing that I will tell you is that we need prayers for our officer,” Chief Pooley said. “He is definitely a fighter, but he is not anywhere close to being in a stable condition.”
Investigators recovered what’s called a “ghost gun” at the scene, which is an untraceable, homemade firearm made up of components sold as a kit or separately.
Nunez is also hospitalized with less severe injuries. When released, he’s expected to be booked on multiple counts of aggravated assault.
Apache Junction PD has created an online space where community members can share messages for Officer Facio and his family. Tap/click here to share a message.
“He really is just the heartbeat of this department. And it is very, very difficult for our officers right now,” Chief Pooley said.
Prior to Apache Junction, Facio was previously a police officer in Phoenix. He is married with two children.
The East Valley Critical Incident Response Team (EVCIRT), led by the Mesa Police Department, is investigating the incident.
The four other officers who were involved are on standard paid administrative leave, which is protocol following a shooting.
“Had those officers not reacted the way they did, Officer Facio would have lost his life yesterday on that street. There’s no doubt in my mind,” Chief Pooley said. “And I met individually with each of those officers, and I let them know. And with tears in my eyes and tears and theirs … they appreciate it knowing that they were able to save him.”
